Pneumatic return systems



March 24, 1959 w. D.-M0|NNESS PNEUMATIC RETURN SYSTEMS Filed Dec. 9,1957 I W O Tm w W a H 0 h u n E u u m %W m w B m m H WI m U S |||||L r II l." .Ll *k g M United States Patent PNEUMATIC RETURN SYSTEMS Walter D.Mclnness, South Ozone Park, N.

Application December 9, 1957, Serial No. 701,502

1 Claim. (Cl. 302-22) My invention relates to a coin or fare collectingsystem and more particularly to' an air-controlled tubular returnmechanism which will return coins and tokens from a turnstile orcollection box to a central collecting station or control booth.

' Heretofore, the coin exchanger or token salesman was frequentlycompelled to leave the booth, walk to each individual turnstile, takethe collection from the turnstile and then return with the collection tothe protection of the booth.

This strip was inconvenient as it held up a waiting line of customersand dangerous as it exposed the collector and made him an easy hold-upvictim.

Secondly, unless extremely frequent trips were made to the turnstiles,it was necessary to retain in the booth a large supply of tokens orcoins for deposit in the turnstiles to satisfy the customers. This largesupply of tokens or cash was holdup bait.

Therefore an object of the invention is to provide a closed, automatictransport system which will directly and speedily convey the coins ortokens from the turnstiles to the control booths.

Another object is to provide an automatic token and coin return systemfrom the points of collection to the booth to permit continuous use oftokens or coins and so obviate the requirements of a large reservesupply of the same.

A further object is to provide a combination token or coin collectionsystem and a counter mechanism which will operate as a single unitwithout manual operation between the collection of the tokens and theircounting.

Another object is to provide in a token and coin collecting returnsystem, a single powered air-pressure unit which can operate to returntokens and coins from a multiple number of collection locations orturnstiles to a central dispensing station or booth.

An additional object is to provide a token and coin collecting system inwhich a difference of air-pressure is used as in the means of enforcingthe tokens or coins from their point of deposit to the booth.

A further object is to provide a token and coin collect ing system inwhich both a partial vacuum and an aboveatmospheric pressure is producedto transport the tokens or coins from their points of deposit to thebooth.

I accomplish these and other objects by providing my token or coinreturn system with a low-pressure pipe system connecting the point orpoints of deposit to an air-powered source in the booth and having ahigher airpressure pipe system connecting the booth to the point orpoints of deposit. More specifically I provide a substantially closedpipe system between the booth and the tumstiles and insert an air-pump,located in the booth, into the system, the pump intake or vacuum sitebeing connected to the portion of the system between the turnstiles andthe booth and the pump exhaust or pressure end being connected to theportion of the system between the booth and the turnstiles so thatpressure is provided to initially motivate the coins or tokens insertedin the turn- 2,879,109 Patented Mar. 24, z a

stiles and a partial vacuum to continue them on their travel to thebooth.

For further comprehension of the invention and ofv the objects andadvantages thereof, references will be had to the following description,the accompanying drawings and to the appended claim in which the variousnovel features of invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing a coin or token return system embodyingmy invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail showing a pipe connection in the systemshown in Fig. l.

In the drawings and in the specifications in which like numbers indicatesimilar elements, my coin and return system is designated by 10.; V

The system 10. is shown comprised of'a pipe or tubing layout 11,turnstiles are 12, shown'diagrammatically-a visible container 13, andcoin or token counter 14, and an air pump 15. The visible container 13and the coin or token counter 14, preferably though not necessarily, arelocated within a change booth 16, shown in dashed line.

The piping layout 11, which extends from the air exhaust opening orpressure end of the pump 15 back to the air intake end of the pump, is asubstantially closed circuitous route. Drop chutes 17 in the turnstiles,extend into the piping layout so that the coins or tokens can enter thesystem. Immediately above the chute mouth the turnstiles are eachprovided with a slot opening suitable for receiving the coins or tokens.These slots are only slightly larger than the tokens and are purposelymade small so as not to permit the escape of much air. The pump producessufiicient air-pressure and vacuum so that the coins or tokens areforced or pulled from their entrances to the system at the junctionbetween the drop chute and the pipe 11 to the visible container.

In the piping system 11 there is provided a vertically positioned pipe18 and a horizontally positioned pipe 19 (see Fig. 2). The vertical pipe18 extends into and through the horizontal pipe 19 and downward into thevisible container. The pipes 18 and 19 are secured together by anysuitable means such as welding. The portion of the pipe 18 within thepipe 19 is provided with holes 20 to permit the air to pass from thepipe 18 to the pipe 19.

Positioned immediately below the visible container 13 is the coin ortoken counter 14.

A control valve 21 is located in the pipe layout to permit regulation ofthe air pressure and vacuum. The air pressure and vacuum must, ofcourse, be of different force depending on the length and diameter ofthe piping layout, the weight'of the coins or tokens conveyed, thedistances through which the coins or tokens are raised, the size of theturnstiles slots and the number of turnstiles used. The normal vacuumrequired to operate a system servicing a token, the size of a dime, or adime and six turnstiles with minimum size slots to receive a dime andpiping layout of approximately feet long with a rise for the token orcoin of about 9 feet, is approximately 13 ounces and the normal amountof air supplied at the pressure of the pump to operate the system isapproximately 55 cubic feet per minute.

Unions, couplings or other suitable disconnecting means 22 are placed inthe drop chutes in the turnstiles so that any turnstile can bedisconnected from the system and become manually operable.

The coin counter 14 is positioned immediately below the visiblecontainer so that the coins or tokens drop.

drawingforrning a material part .l i I 2,879,109

directly through ithe 'eontainer tinto thieeouuter. However, if desireda stop or holder can be placed between the container and counter so thatthe coin or token can be viewed before counting if desired (this is notshown on the drawings). a V 7 Although the container andcounter'arefboth-necessary to provide a complete system, the systemwould be "operable without their presence. If they are disposed with, agate not shown wouldbe required at the'lower end of the pipe '19 so asnot to weaken the pressure vacuum conditions in the system. It'shouldbe'realized and understood that while heretofore I have confinedmy application of the within .invention to coins or tokens, thestructure described can be used to convey and carry other objectsandsubstances. Furthermore it should be understood that while I haveillustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do'not 'limitmyself to the precise construction herein disclosed and theright 'is reserved to all changes'and modifications coming withinthescope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent '15:

A coin or token collecting means comprised of a pump, a coin or tokenintake element, a coin or token exit pipe and a circulatory pipe system,said circulatory pipe system being comprised of pipes connecting the airintake end of the pump to the air exhaust end of the pump and forming asubstantially closed system, the coin or token intake element having aslotted opening for receiving a coin or token and said slot notsubstantially larger than the token and being connected to saidcirculatory pipe system intermediate .its ends, said token entering thesystem by gravity and independent of the air pressure, said coin ortoken exit pipe being positioned and joined at one of its ends to thecirculatory system intermediate the coin or token intake element and theair intake end of "the pump, and extending downward from the system,whereby when a coin or token is dropped into the intake element andthence to the circulatory system it is carried to the exit pipe.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES' PATENTS

